The Pelzer Family: Our beginning

We aren't sure where to start blogging, so we've decided to start from the beginning. Where our lives started together as Casey Pelzer and Haley Johnson :)

Baby Casey and baby Haley... Just kidding, not that far back!

It's crazy to look back on what seems like ages ago when it's only been 6 1/2 years since we've met. And crazy has been our lives since then! We often say we don't know what we would be doing right now if we didn't have our girls.. life would be very boring and our bank account would be MUCH bigger!

When Casey and I met our perception on our lives together was a little different than it is now.. He often said "my 20's are for myself (single) and my 30's will be for marriage and kids". Now 28, married with 2 kids his new words are "I will have 3 kids by the time I'm 30". Ha, I'm not so sure about that one, we (I) have to go through another morning sickness filled pregnancy, we'll have to add on another house AND rob a bank for that to happen before the 30 mark ;) (just kidding on the bank part).

Casey and I dated for 7 months, engaged for a little over a year, August 24th 2004 and married October 22nd 2005. During our first year of marriage, the "honeymoon", Casey was finishing up student teaching and working at Atlantic Bottling while I worked in the lab at CCMH. We had been living in Anita for about 2 months when we woke up Christmas morning 2005 to a positive pregnancy test and lots of "all day sickness" to follow!

Our Single days..

Our dating days..

Engaged..

October 22nd 2005

Pregnancy!

We were blessed with miss Gracey Mae Pelzer on September 2nd 2006 @ 10:30pm after a long day of pitocin, some prayers for the daddy-to-be (he was a little nervous and quite freaked out about the whole hospital thing) and after an hour and half of pushing she was here! Here's what Casey wrote for Chuck Offenburger's website on the birth experience.

'"How is it possible to go through that experience and not believe in God?” To think that everything that goes along with child birth is strictly scientific or coincidental seems to me to be close-minded and shallow. All the things that need to take place and happen in just the right way and in the right time are amazing. It has to be because of something much bigger than ourselves or any human for that matter. I believe the credit and glory need to be given to God. It breaks my heart to think of the possibility that someone could go through such a powerful experience and not even give God a thought."

Gracey Mae Pelzer

8lb 3oz 19 1/4" long

Our next couple of years with our precious baby girl growing into a very happy toddler were wonderful yet trying at times, but all in all we got through the colic, doctors visits, first steps, first words, bottle and paci breaking, potty training and lots in between!

Somewhere in there we moved to Atlantic into my parents little next door rental home after Papa John remodeled it to our liking, it may be small but its full of alot of love and we wouldn't have it any other way!

By now after Casey taught at Tri-Center Community Schools for a year we decided we wanted him to be closer to our community. He was hired in Atlantic as a Middle school teacher and head girls basketball coach. I went part time at the lab and started teaching some dance classes at Villa Dance. Both of us are still employed at those places and Casey works at Atlantic Bottling during the summer.

That last picture of Gracey was at her 2 year birthday, she didn't know it but that was the last birthday she would spend as an only child. We found out we were pregnant with our second baby girl later that month and due in May! Let the sickness and moods begin...poor Casey.

I'm a big sister! Nelley Jae Pelzer was born May 26th 2009 @ 6:43pm another pitocin/epidural delivery, this time the pushing part was a breeze! And I believe it was easier for Casey to go through the "blood and guts" as he once described it. But he did an awesome job coaching and supporting me from the head of the bed trying not to look any further. Gracey is fantastic at being a big sister! And loves and adores her little "baby cakes".

God is awesome! We are truly blessed and so grateful for all the wonderful things He has placed in our lives so far.